Drawn microchannel array devices and method of analysis using same

ABSTRACT

Micro channel array devices drawn from a bulk preform having an array of components to reduce the cross section. The reduced cross section fiber like structure is cut to produce individual arrays of small scale. End caps are drawn and optionally micro machined. The end caps are used to provide input and output ports and other structures for use with the micro channel arrays. A micro channel array may be used with different end caps for analysis and may form a lab on a chip or a component thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to micro channel arraystructures. More particularly, the present invention relates to a deviceconstructed by drawing a bulk preform to produce the micro channel arrayand a method of analysis utilizing such structures.

[0003] 2. Background of the Invention

[0004] As the demand for rapid, accurate and inexpensive analyticaltechniques has grown, there has been a drive to develop smalleranalytical devices. Such small devices can provide the ability to runhundreds or thousands of simultaneous experiments in a singlelaboratory, allowing heretofore impossible or impractical results to beachieved. For example, combinatorial chemists may now perform thousandsof simultaneous syntheses using a fraction of the time and materialsnecessary to perform even one conventional synthesis. Pharmaceuticalresearchers, DNA analysts and a wide variety of other biologists andchemists have benefited from the revolution in lab on a chiptechnologies.

[0005] In order to make this possible, lab on a chip devices generallyconsist of microfluidic systems fabricated on a planar substrate. Thesubstrate is generally selected according to the desired use and may bechosen to be resistant to acids, bases, salts, temperature extremes,temperature variations and/or applied electromagnetic fields. Further,the substrate should be relatively non-reactive with whatever chemicalsmight be used as part of the experiments to be performed. Examples ofsuch substrates include glass, fused silica, quartz crystals, silicon,diamond and a variety of polymers. The substrate may be opaque ortransparent, according to the application. For example, if opticaldetection is used to monitor the process, transparent substrates may bedesirable to allow signal transmission.

[0006] In many cases, the lab on a chip may essentially consist ofseveral channels in a surface or in the interior of the substrate. Atypical channel may have a depth of about 10 μm and a width of about 60μm.

[0007] Conventionally, lab on a chip devices have been manufacturedusing techniques similar to those used to fabricate microprocessors andother small scale electronic devices. For example it is common to usephotolithography, chemical etching, plasma deposition, ion beamdeposition, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition and other techniquescommonly used in the semiconductor industry. Such techniques tend to beexpensive and capital intensive. A single photolithography system cancost up to $20 million, not including the associated facilities such asclean rooms, vibration isolation structures and the like.

[0008] Moreover, photolithography has been unable to successfullyproduce channels with high aspect ratios or straight walls, has aninherently low production rate and generally uses materials which are oflower quality such as borosilicate glass or plastics.

[0009] In lieu of the above fabrication methods, micromachiningtechniques such as laser drilling, micro milling and the like orinjection molding, microcasting or other casting techniques may be used.These techniques are generally slow and involve extremely high precisionmachining operations at the limit of current technologies.

[0010] In the manufacture of optical fibers, a pure silica tube has adoped silica layer deposited onto its interior surface by a processknown as chemical vapor deposition. The tube is heated to cause it tocollapse into a solid rod. The rod is heated and drawn to greatlyincrease its length and reduce its cross section, creating a flexibleoptical fiber.

[0011] For certain applications, a glass rod may be formed with porestherein prior to drawing to serve as a pipette, for example. The drawnfiber has tubes formed by the stretched pores. The tubes extend alongthe length of the fiber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention addresses the needs identified above byproviding a micro channel array device produced by forming a preformbody having channels therein, drawing the preform body to reduce a crosssection thereof and to increase a length of the preform body to form anextended array, and cutting the extended array to a desired length.

[0013] Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method ofanalyzing by introducing a plurality of sample components to a drawnsubstrate having a length, the drawn substrate having at least two drawnchannels formed therein. The drawn channels extend in a directionparallel to the length, the substrate includes inlets and outletsdisposed in cooperating relation with the drawn channels

[0014] Yet another embodiment of the present invention includes a devicefor analyzing a plurality of sample components, including a drawnsubstrate having a length, the drawn substrate having at least two drawnchannels formed therein. The drawn channels extend in a directionparallel to the length. The device includes at least one endcapsubstrate having at least one endcap channel, the at least one endcapchannel being in fluid communication with a selected one of the drawnchannels, a plurality of the drawn channels, and/or another endcapchannel.

[0015] The device may be employed in a lab on a chip device.

[0016] Another aspect of the present invention includes a drawnsubstrate manufactured by a process including providing a preform bodyhaving at least one channel and at least one optical waveguide preformtherein and extending along a length of the preform body, drawing thepreform body to extend the length thereof such that a length of the atleast one channel is extended while substantially maintaining a crosssectional geometry of the at least one channel and such that a length ofthe at least one optical waveguide preform is extended whilesubstantially maintaining a cross sectional geometry of the at least oneoptical waveguide preform, and cutting the drawn preform body to adesired length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification illustrate embodiments of theinvention and together with the description, explain the objects,advantages, and principles of the invention.

[0018]FIG. 1 shows an example of a drawn substrate according to thepresent invention.

[0019]FIG. 2 shows an example of another drawn substrate according tothe present invention.

[0020]FIG. 3a shows an example of a drawn substrate incorporating avariety of drawn channel shapes according to the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 3b shows an example of a micro channel array having taperedchannels according to the present invention.

[0022]FIGS. 4a-j show examples of several drawn channel cross sectionsaccording to the present invention.

[0023]FIGS. 5a-e show examples of various endcap substrates and endcapchannels configurations according to the present invention.

[0024]FIGS. 6a and 6 b show examples of drawn micro channel arraydevices according to the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 7 shows an example of drawn micro channel array devicesaccording to the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 8 shows a partial side view of a drawn micro channel arraydevice and end cap of FIG. 7.

[0027]FIG. 9 shows an alternate partial side view of a drawn microchannel array device of FIG. 7.

[0028]FIG. 10 shows an example of a multi-part drawn micro channel arraydevices in a lab on a chip structure according to the present invention.

[0029]FIG. 11 shows another partial side view of a drawn micro channelarray device having an integrated optical fiber according to the presentinvention.

[0030]FIG. 12 shows an example of another drawn micro channel arraydevices having an integrated optical fiber according to the presentinvention.

[0031]FIG. 13a-c shows examples of the means by which the light can beredirected from the axis of the fiber into or out of the micro channelarray device.

[0032]FIG. 14 shows an example of a drawn micro channel array structurehaving integrated drawn optical waveguides according to the presentinvention.

[0033]FIG. 15a-b shows a side view examples of a drawn micro channelarray device having integrated optical fibers, according to the presentinvention.

[0034]FIG. 16 shows an example of a drawn microchanel array forming adiagnostic device according to the present invention.

[0035]FIG. 17 shows an example of a capillary electrochromatographydevice according to the present invention.

[0036]FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a micro capillary array deviceaccording to the present invention.

[0037]FIGS. 19a and 19 b are schematic cross sections of drawn arraydevices according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] In the following description, for purposes of explanation and notlimitation, specific details are set forth such as particularcomponents, techniques, etc. in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. However, the invention may bepracticed in other embodiments that depart from these specific details.In some instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices may beomitted so as not to obscure the description of the present inventionwith unnecessary details.

[0039] The following definitions are used herein:

[0040] Drawn micro channel array devices: a complete structureconsisting of any of drawn channels, endcaps, optical waveguides,optical fibers, lenses, reflectors, and portals.

[0041] Draw process: the process whereby a substrate in the form of ablock or rod is drawn, usually while being heated, stretching it alongits length and reducing the cross sectional area to a desired size.

[0042] Preform body: the initial substrate with machined or otherwiseformed channels prior to having its cross sectional area reduced by thedraw process. The preform body may have an optical waveguide embeddedtherein.

[0043] Channels: the channels in the substrate prior to drawing.

[0044] Drawn substrate: the body of material drawn from the preformbody.

[0045] Drawn channels: the channels within the drawn substrate.

[0046] Endcap substrate: the body of material which is attached toeither drawn substrates or other endcaps to enhance the function of thedrawn micro channel array devices. The endcap substrates containportals, mixing chambers, fluid conduits, and other structures used inthe analysis technique.

[0047] Endcap channels: the channels within the endcap substrate.

[0048] Ports, outlets and portals: additional openings other than thechannels machined or otherwise formed in either a channel substrate orendcap substrate. These ports put the drawn channels and endcap channelsin fluid communication with interfaces outside the drawn substrate andendcap substrate. The ports generally connect to the channels at anangle between 1 and 90 degrees from the channel itself.

[0049] Fluid communication: condition where conduits are sufficientlyconnected to allow fluid to flow there through.

[0050] Conduit: any of drawn channel, endcap channel, or portal.

[0051] Cross sectional geometry: a shape of a preform body, drawnsubstrate, or endcap substrate if viewed axially down its length.Includes similar geometric figures, that is figures with the same shapebut of a differing scale.

[0052] Optical waveguide preform: an initial optical waveguide in itsbulk form prior to having its cross sectional area reduced by the drawprocess. This would be embedded in the above preform body, and drawnsimultaneously with the channels.

[0053] Drawn optical waveguide: the optical waveguide after undergoingthe draw process.

[0054] Reflector: a shape on an exterior surface of the drawn substrateor endcap substrate or on an interior surface of a channel that isdesigned such that light will reflect back into the substrate or channelwithin the substrate. The reflector would typically be coated with areflective coating, including but not limited to silver.

[0055] Exterior wall: the exterior surface of either a drawn substrateor endcap substrate.

[0056] Interior wall: the interior surface of either a drawn substrateor endcap substrate which forms the defining edge of the drawn channelor endcap channel respectively.

[0057] Channel spacing: the distance between channels in either thedrawn substrate or endcap substrate.

[0058] Rotational alignment: the alignment of channels in respect toother channels when rotated on the axis of the length. This can apply toeither drawn channels or endcap channels.

[0059] Angular alignment: the alignment of channels in respect to otherchannels when rotated radially to the length. This can apply to eitherdrawn channels or endcap channels.

[0060] Alignment Groove: A groove or protrusion from the surface of thedrawn substrate or endcap substrate which allows for mechanicalalignment of electrodes, optical fibers, lenses, detectors,transmitters, wires or other micro electromechanical devices to thedrawn channels.

[0061] Optical Isolator: A region of material which filters out desiredwavelengths of light such that selected drawn channels or other regionsof the drawn substrate or drawn endcaps are optically isolated fromother channels, regions, or external areas.

[0062] Optical Fiber: A separately drawn optical fiber which is insertedinto or attached to the drawn micro channel array devices.

[0063] Detection: The quantification of the amount of analyte in a drawnchannel or endcap channel at a particular location within one of thosechannels.

[0064] Referring now to FIG. 1, a drawn substrate 10 according to thepresent invention is shown. A series of drawn channels 12 is arrayedacross a face 14 of the drawn substrate 10. In this example, the drawnsubstrate 10 is about 10 cm in length (L), about 1000 μm in height (H),and about 1500 μm in width (W). Each individual drawn channel 12 isabout 50 μm in width and about 150 μm in height.

[0065] In general, it is preferable to create arrays of channels havinga cross sectional area in the range of 0.0001 mm² to 1 mm², preferably0.0025 mm² to 0.25 mm², and most preferably 0.005 mm² to 0.025 mm².

[0066] To form this array, a preform body is made, having similarproportions but of a larger size. The preform body contains channelswhich correspond to the drawn channels. The preform body is heated in afurnace and drawn, stretching it along its length and reducing the crosssectional area to the desired size while maintaining its geometry, thatis the final, drawn substrate cross section is geometrically similar tothe cross section of the original preform body, differing essentiallyonly in size. By controlling the speed of the draw, the resulting crosssectional area can be controlled allowing formation of structures suchas tapers. Preferably, a thickness monitor is provided. The thicknessmonitor supplies a control signal to the drawing process, so that aconstant or appropriately varying cross section can be produced.

[0067] Though the drawn array does not require any coating, a protectivecoating can be applied over the drawn array as is done for opticalfibers. Various coatings may be applied, according to the intended use.Materials for a coating may be selected, for example, from polyimide,acrylate, fluorinated acrylate, silicone, metal or optical cladding. Itmay be desirable to make use of multiple coatings or multiple layers ofa single coating. If necessary, the coating can then be cured in acuring oven. If the coating is selected to have a lower index ofrefraction than the drawn substrate, the drawn substrate can act as alight guide. In the case that the drawn array is flexible, it may becoiled onto a take-up drum.

[0068] The preform body from which the drawn substrate is to be formedmay be made from a variety of materials including, for example, glass,thermoplastic polymers, and ceramics. In many cases, the preferredmaterials will be fused silica or quartz. These materials provide highstrength, good transmission of light, including UV wavelengths, highdegree of homogeneity and low fluorescence. Additionally, since suchmaterials are commonly used for manufacture of drawn optical components,their behavior when heated and drawn is reasonably well understood.

[0069] An alternate drawn substrate 10′ is shown in FIG. 2. The drawnsubstrate 10′ of FIG. 2 has an annular array of drawn channels 12′ ofsimilar dimensions to the drawn channels 12 of FIG. 1. Additionally acentral through hole 16 is provided. The central through hole 16 may beused to accommodate mechanical connectors, to allow a light signal to beinjected into the hole, to allow a light signal to be transmitted fromthe hole, or to allow passage of a material from one end of the drawnsubstrate to the other.

[0070] In FIG. 3a, a drawn substrate 20 is shown, illustrating severalpossible drawn channel shapes. A round channel 22, a rectangular channel24, a triangular channel 26 and an oval channel 28 are shown. FIG. 3bshows an example of a drawn substrate 20′ having drawn channels 30 withtapered portions 32. The tapered portions can be formed by varyingvarious draw parameters including the rate of drawing, the draw tension,the draw temperature and the draw pressure during production of thedrawn substrate. It may be necessary to machine the drawn substrateafter the draw process in order to produce a desired exterior crosssection while providing varying drawn channel cross sections. FIGS.4a-j, likewise illustrate exemplary drawn channel and drawn substratecross sections. A given drawn substrate may employ identical crosssectioned drawn channels as shown in FIG. 1, or, as shown in FIG. 3, avariety of cross sections.

[0071] An interior or exterior wall may be adapted to act as a lens.That is the cross sectional shape of a drawn channel or drawn substrateis selected such that at least one wall forms a lens. For example, FIG.4f shows a channel having a convex lens on one side and a concave lenson the other. This may be particularly useful in the case that anoptical detector is employed. The curvature of the wall is selected toprovide the appropriate focus or defocus of light passing through thewall. In contrast, a straight wall will produce minimal lensing effect,if any. The shape of the drawn channel may likewise be selected tomaximize the sample volume or to alter the speed at which liquids flowthrough the drawn channel, for example. Likewise, a portion of theinterior or exterior wall may act as a reflector. A particular shape maybe selected to increase the reflectivity of the wall. However, in orderto increase the reflectance of the wall over that caused by a change inindex of refraction, the wall is preferably coated with a reflectivecoating, including but not limited to silver.

[0072]FIG. 5a-e show a series of end cap substrates for use with thedrawn substrate. The end cap substrates can incorporate end capchannels, portals designed to provide fluidic communication with thedrawn channels. The end caps substrates may include micro structuressuch as valves, switches, portals, mixing chambers or any otherstructures resulting in a lab on a chip device. Moreover, the end capssubstrates may be terminal structures or may be used as an interfacebetween a drawn micro channel array devices and the analyticalinstrument, as shown in the non-limiting examples illustrated in FIGS.7-10, 17 and 18, and described below.

[0073]FIG. 5a shows an end cap substrate 50 which simply includes eightstraight, round endcap channels 52. An end cap of this type may bemanufactured in the same manner as the drawn substrate itself, and cutto the desired length. FIG. 5b shows an end cap substrate 54 with threeendcap channels 56. Each channel 56 further incorporates side ports 58.While the end cap substrates 54 and channels 56 can be made through thedrawing process, the side ports 58 require an additional machining stepsince they are, for example, perpendicular to the direction of draw.Similarly, FIG. 5c shows an end cap substrate 60 with three endcapchannels 62 and side ports or channels 64 which may be machined into theend cap substrate 60. Unlike the side ports 58 as shown in FIG. 5b, thechannels 64 of FIG. 5c are at the surface of the end cap substrate 60and thus each channel 64 forms a semicircular trough. FIG. 5d shows anend cap substrate 70 having three endcap channels 72. Each channel 72 istapered so that one end 74 is larger in diameter than the other end 76.To produce a tapered port 72, the tapered, or otherwise shaped, port maybe formed by using a varied draw rate, mechanical machining, lasermachining, or chemical etching. In order to create the end cap substrate70 as shown, with tapered ports, but with a uniform external crosssection, the exterior may have to be machined. FIG. 5e shows a similarendcap with a larger volume taper 78 which may serve as a capillary,pipette or as a reservoir. The endcap of FIG. 5e can be formed, forexample as two constant cross sections joined by a taper.

[0074]FIGS. 6a and 6 b show how an end cap substrate may be used inconjunction with a drawn substrate to produce a complete micro channelarray device. In FIG. 6a, a drawn substrate 80 contains three drawnchannels 82, in this case, having a rectangular cross sectionalgeometry. A section 83 of one of the channels 82 is shown forillustrative purposes. At the end of each drawn channel 82, a machinedtransverse channel 84 is provided. In a particular application, one end86 of each transverse channel can be used as a waste port, while theother end 88 acts as an analyte port. An end cap substrate 90 includesthree channels 92 which are aligned with a central portion of the drawnchannels 82 of the drawn substrate 80. The three channels 92 of the endcap substrate 90 act as buffer ports and are in fluid communication withthe buffer port 88, the waste port 86, and the drawn channel 83 of thedrawn substrate 80. The end cap substrate 90 and drawn substrate 80 areconnected by any appropriate method including fusing and adhesivebonding. Since the end cap substrate 90 and drawn substrate 80 aresimilar in material and structure to optical fibers, many of thesplicing techniques used in that field may be employed in the presentinvention.

[0075] End caps substrates and endcap channels may also be used toprovide flexibility in drawn channel path length as shown in FIG. 6b. Adrawn substrate 96 having several drawn channels 98 may be, for example,approximately 20 cm long. In some applications, such as capillaryelectrophoresis, it may be desirable to use a capillary having a lengthof 100 cm. By use of an end cap substrate 100 on each end whichredirects flow along adjacent drawn channels 98, five 20 cm drawnchannels may provide the desired 100 cm length. Moreover, the same drawnsubstrate 96 may be used to create, for example, two 40 cm drawnchannels or one 40 cm and one 60 cm drawn channel by providing differentend cap substrates 100.

[0076]FIG. 7 shows a second end cap and drawn substrate combination.Drawn substrate 100 incorporates four drawn channels 102, radiallyarrayed about a central axis. Each drawn channel 102 has an associatedconduit 104 which may be machined or otherwise formed in the end 106 ofthe drawn substrate 100. For illustrative purposes, a section 105 of oneof the channels is shown. An end cap substrate 110 has four groups ofthree endcap channels 112 which may be machined or formed in a drawn endcap as discussed above. In one application, the endcap channels 112 actas ports, allowing transport of material into the channels 102.

[0077]FIGS. 8 and 9 show two alternate partial side views of the drawnmicro channel array device of FIG. 7. In FIG. 8, the drawn substrate 100is shown with one of the drawn channels 102 and one of the conduits 104.On one end is an end cap substrate 110, with three endcap channels 112a-c. The first channel 112 a may be, for example, a buffer port, thesecond channel 112 b, may be an analyte port while the third channel 112c may be a waste port. On the other end, a second end cap substrate 116is provided with a through hole 118 corresponding to each drawn channel102. In an alternate arrangement, shown in FIG. 9, the drawn substrate100′ contains only one portion of the conduit 104′. The other portion106 is instead formed in the end cap substrate 110′. This is meant todemonstrate that the conduit can be machined or otherwise formed ineither the endcap substrate or drawn substrate.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 10, a more complicated drawn micro channel arraydevice can be assembled from the basic parts. In the description of FIG.10, the components are described without reference to the subsystemssuch as the actual channels, ports, slots and the like. Adjacentcomponents are attached by fusing or bonding as appropriate.

[0079] An end cap substrate 140 acts as an interface to the analyticalinstrument section and contains ports and valves or valve regions. Nextis a segment of drawn substrate 144 which contains drawn channels whichact as mixing chambers. The mixing chambers lead into another end capunit 148 which contains further valves. The valve section 148 controlsfluids as they enter the capillary electrophoresis (CE) section 152. Thecapillary electrophoresis section includes drawn channels which act ascapillaries for the CE process. The results of the CE process are readout by the detector section 156 which is preferably an end cap substratewhich interfaces optically with the analytical instrument. Finally,another end cap substrate 160 contains output and/or waste outletstructures and interfaces again to the analytical instrument. As isapparent from FIG. 10, a variety of structures may be built in similarfashion with various combinations of end cap substrates and drawnsubstrate.

[0080] Optical fibers may be integrated with drawn micro channel arraydevices in a variety of ways. As shown in FIG. 11, a drawn micro channelarray device 170 having a central drawn channel 172 is suited to acceptan optical fiber 174 within the channel 172. Arrayed around the opticalfiber 174 are four drawn channels 176, each optically connected to anoptical fiber 178. The optical fibers 178 are attached to one or moredetectors, not shown. The detectors may be any suitable light detectorsuch as a photodiode, scintillator, thermodetector, photoelectricdetector, pyroelectric detector, photomultiplier, phosphor screen,photoconductive detector, etc. As shown, the optical fiber 174 includesa radially emitting tip 182. Photons 184 emitted from the tip 182 passthrough the channels 176. In one application, if the channels contain asubstance which fluoresces, the detector fibers 178 will carry thefluorescent light to the detectors. In an alternate application, thechannels may be tested for a substance which blocks the photons from thetip 182. In the presence of a signal from the detector fibers 178, thesubstance is absent. Other uses for this device may be apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

[0081] In manufacturing the device of FIG. 11, the drawn micro channelarray device 170 is first manufactured according to the method describedabove. The central channel 172 may either be formed integrally with thedevice 170, or may be later machined into the device 170. The detectoroptical fibers 178 are later added and are connecting by fusionsplicing, mechanical coupling, or adhesives as appropriate.

[0082] A similar arrangement to that of FIG. 11 is shown in FIG. 12. Inthis device, a device 190 has several drawn or machined channels 192 atits surface. A central channel 194 again provides access for a sourceoptical fiber 196 with an emitting tip 198. Arrayed around the opticalfiber 196 are four drawn channels 199, each optically connected to anoptical fiber 200. Several detector optical fibers 200 are arrayedwithin the channels 192 to transmit signals from the device todetectors, not shown. The channels at the surface act as a mechanicalalignment and connection mechanism of the optical fibers 200 to thedevice 190.

[0083]FIGS. 13a-c show three examples of how the photons 184 of FIG. 11can be redirected. In FIG. 13a, an angled end 300 on the optical fiber301 acts as a side fire device, directing the photons 302 at an angle tothe fiber axis (typically 90 degrees). The optical fiber or device 303can be rotated with respect to each other, thereby selecting the drawnchannels 304 individually for analysis.

[0084]FIG. 13b shows another device similar to FIG. 13a, only in thiscase a reflector 305, separate from the optical fiber 301 is providedfor redirecting the light. The reflector is rotatable with respect tothe optical fiber 306 and device 307. The rotation allows selection ofdrawn channels 308 to be analyzed.

[0085]FIG. 13c shows another device similar to FIG. 13a, having as astructure for redirecting light a scattering medium 309, inserted in thecentral hole. The light is delivered to the device via the optical fiber310 and the beam of photons is directed toward the scattering medium 309which scatters the photons towards the drawn channels 312. Though thescattering medium 309 is shown to scatter in all directions, it could bearranged to scatter preferentially in one direction and be rotatable toselect a given output channel as with the reflectors. Likewise, thereflectors and scattering medium could be replaced with any structurefor redirecting light such as, for example, a diffractive opticalelement.

[0086] Referring now to FIG. 14, an drawn substrate 202 is shown withdrawn channels 204 alongside drawn optical waveguides 206 embedded inthe drawn substrate. This drawn substrate 202 may be formed by firstcreating a preform body, not shown. The preform body contains bothchannels 204, an embedded optical waveguide made of a similar material.The waveguide is formed by either a rod of lower refractive index thanthe surrounding preform body, or a rod which itself includes a centralarea of lower refractive index than an outer area on the rod. Thisdifference in refractive index is necessary to achieve the condition oftotal internal reflection for waveguiding of the light. By drawing thepreform body, the embedded optical waveguides are extended, formingdrawn optical waveguides 206 and the channels are extended, formingdrawn channels 204.

[0087]FIG. 15a provides a side view of an end cap substrate 210 whichmay be used as a detector device. A pair of optical fibers 212, 214 aredisposed within the end cap substrate 210 and have end surfaces 216which are machined to present a 45° angle. Light 211 enters the firstfiber 212, is reflected off the surface 216 and is directed through awindow portion of an endcap channel 218. Light exiting or emitted fromthe endcap channel is reflected off the end surface 216 and is thendirected down fiber 214 and exits fiber 214 to the analyticalinstrument, not shown. The endcap channel 218 transports the analytepast the window between optical fibers 212 and 214, where it isoptically analyzed. FIG. 15a may be applied as shown in FIGS. 13a-c andFIG. 15b wherein the 15 a device is attached to a drawn substrate 219.The drawn substrate contains drawn channels where the analyte undergoesa CE process, for example, and subsequently travels into device 217where it undergoes optical analysis, as is done in a CE separation.

[0088]FIG. 16 shows a drawn substrate 220 having two drawn channels 222.Attached to one end of the drawn substrate 220 is an end cap substrate230. The end cap contains extensions of the two channels 222, a centralhole 232, and may be fused or otherwise adhered to the drawn substrate220. Two detector fibers 234 are disposed on either side of the end cap230 to accept light signals from the sides of the end cap 230. A sourcefiber 236, having an emitter tip 238, is used to input light signalsinto the end cap 230 through the central hole 232. The channels 222 asshown are primarily disposed along a direction parallel to the array220. However, portions of the channels 222 in the end cap 230 extend ina direction perpendicular to the primary direction. These portions canserve, for example, to increase the overall length of the channels, orto increase the optical path length through which light emitted from theemitter tip 238 must pass before being accepted by the detector fibers234. This may be useful when the analyte being detected is only weaklyinteracting with the light signals due to low reactivity, low density,low concentration, low absorptivity, or other factors.

[0089] Referring now to FIG. 17, a micro channel array device 240 forcapillary electrochromatography is made up of four end caps substrates250, 260, 265, 275 and a drawn substrate 270. The first end capsubstrate 265 is an injector cap similar to that shown in FIG. 5a-ewhich interfaces the device to the analytical instrument. The second endcap substrate 260 is a filter section end cap and likewise includesthree endcap channels 262 and may be made by drawing. Additionally,filter material is disposed within the endcap channels 262. The thirdendcap substrate 250 is a detector section. The detector section 250includes three endcap channels 252 and is preferably made by drawing asdescribed above. The fourth end cap substrate 275 is an outlet interfacesimilar to that shown in FIG. 5a-e which interfaces the device to theanalytical instrument. The micro channel array 270 has three drawnchannels 272 which are aligned on one end with the filter ports 262, andon the other end with the detector ports 252 so that they may be influidic communication. The drawn channels 272 form theelectrochromatography columns through which an analyte will pass duringanalysis. As depicted in FIG. 17 the drawn channels are filled with achromatographic media that is known to those skilled in the art. Asillustrated, the channels 272 may also have tapered ends 274 leading tothe detector section 250. These tapered ends may be formed by varyingthe draw speed of the preform body during manufacture or bymicromachining techniques as described earlier. The tapered ends 274serve to retain the aforementioned chromatographic media in the drawnsubstrate. The tapered ends 274 may be placed in the third endcap 250 toserve the same purpose.

[0090]FIG. 18 shows a completed micro capillary array device 300 ascould be used in a lab on a chip application. The device 300 includes aninsertion endcap substrate 310, a drawn substrate 320, and an outletendcap substrate 330. The insertion endcap substrate 310 serves as aninterface to the instrument which dispenses the analyte and buffer,contains reservoirs 302 for the analyte, buffer 308 and analyte waste306, and contains the valve 312 for dispensing the analyte into thedrawn channels 314. Inlet electrodes 303 are positioned at entrances tothe inlets and the inlet ports 305 are flared. The drawn substrate 320serves two functions in this example: analyte separation and detection.The outlet endcap 330 substrate acts to route buffer and analyte into aninterface with the analytical instrument.

[0091] An example of a process of analyzing the analyte using the device300 shown in FIG. 18 can be described as follows: Buffer and analyte aredispensed into the reservoirs 302, 308 of the insertion endcap substratevia a 96 or 384 well plate fluid dispenser 316, for example, as iscommon in the industry. This 96 well plate fluid dispensing technologycan be modified to incorporate the inlet electrodes 303 required forapplying the electrical fields discussed herein. Initially all deviceconduits are filled with buffer via differential pressure across thedevice 300. Then the analyte is dispensed into the analyte reservoir 302of the insertion endcap substrate 310 in preparation for injection. Anelectric field across the analyte reservoir and analyte waste reservoirdraws a portion of the analyte into the valve region 312. This providesan injection of analyte into the separation pathway 314. Then anelectric field is applied between the buffer reservoir 308 and thebuffer waste reservoir 352 which initiates an electrophoretic separationof the analyte in the drawn channel 314. As the analyte migrates downthe drawn channel 314 it passes through the detection section 322allowing for quantification by spectrophotometric techniques. Aninterface between the drawn substrate detection section 322 and thespectrophotometric instrument 332 is accomplished in this examplethrough an excitation optical fiber 338 (which guide light from a lightsource 336 into the drawn channel 314) and an emission optical fiber 340(which guides light output from the drawn channel to the detector 334).The analyzed materials and buffer then proceed into the outlet endcapsubstrate 330 which interfaces with the analytical instrument 350. Thisinterface includes a buffer waste reservoir 352, an outlet electrode354, a differential pressure device 356 (such as a vacuum) as a means ofinitially filling or subsequently rinsing all conduits, and a mechanism358 providing a sealed connection into the outlet endcap substrate 330.Components of this interface may be integral to the outlet endcapsubstrate 330 itself.

[0092]FIG. 19a and FIG. 19b each show partial cross sections of drawnarray devices according to the present invention. FIG. 19a illustrates adrawn array 400 which contains a plurality of drawn channels 402 and acorresponding plurality of lenses 404 formed in the array. The lenses404 can be used, for example, to focus interrogating light onto thedrawn channels for illuminating them, for inducing fluorescence, orother purposes known to those of skill in related arts. The drawn array400 can be formed as the previously discussed arrays, by drawing apreform in the shape of the final array.

[0093]FIG. 19b shows a drawn array 410 similar to the drawn array 400.Rather than including lenses, however, a curved portion including areflective surface 412 is formed in the drawn array 410. The curved,reflective portion 412 can be used, for example, to focus light on thechannel. Though the curved portion is shown to be semicircular, it maylikewise be hyperbolic to better focus light on the focal point. Forfurther improvement, the two concepts may be used together so thatlenses are formed on upper (for example) surfaces while reflectors areformed on lower surfaces. In this way, the light may be used with greatefficiency.

[0094] While the invention has been described in connection with whatare presently considered to be the most practical and preferredembodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothe disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary it is intended to covervarious modifications and equivalent arrangements included within thespirit and scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for analyzing a plurality of samplecomponents, comprising: a drawn substrate having a length, the drawnsubstrate having at least two drawn channels formed therein; the drawnchannels extending in a direction parallel to the length, and inlets andoutlets in cooperating relation with the drawn channels.
 2. A method ofanalyzing by introducing a plurality of sample components to a drawnsubstrate having a length, the drawn substrate having at least two drawnchannels formed therein; the drawn channels extending in a directionparallel to the length, and the substrate includes inlets and outletsdisposed in cooperating relation with the drawn channels.
 3. A devicefor analyzing a plurality of sample components, comprising: a drawnsubstrate having a length, the drawn substrate having at least two drawnchannels formed therein; the drawn channels extending in a directionparallel to the length; and at least one endcap substrate having atleast one endcap channel, the at least one endcap channel being in fluidcommunication with at least one channel selected from the groupcomprising: a selected one of the drawn channels, a plurality of thedrawn channels, another endcap channel and combinations thereof.
 4. Adevice as in claim 1 or 3 with at least one drawn channel having a crosssectional area in the range of 0.0001 mm² to 1 mm², preferably 0.0025mm² to 0.25 mm², and most preferably 0.005 mm² to 0.0075 mm².
 5. Adevice as in claim 1 or 3 with at least one drawn channel having alength in the range of 1 mm to 1 km, preferably 3 mm to 1000 mm, andmost preferably 10 mm to 250 mm.
 6. A micro electro mechanical systemutilizing a device as in claim 1 or
 3. 7. A lab on a chip systemutilizing a device as in claim 1 or
 3. 8. A device as in claim 1 or 3,wherein the drawn substrate is formed using a drawing process in whichone or more of draw rate, draw tensions, draw temperature, and drawpressure are varied such that a cross sectional area of each channelvaries along the length.
 9. A device as in claim 1 or 3, wherein thedrawn channels further comprise a plurality of ports providing fluidiccommunication with the drawn channels.
 10. A device as in claim 1 or 3,further comprising machined structures disposed within the substrate incooperating relation with the drawn channels.
 11. A device as in claim 1or 3 wherein the drawn substrate further comprises an optical waveguideformed therein and extending in the direction parallel to the length.12. A device as in claim 1 or 3 wherein the drawn substrate furthercomprises an electrical conductor extending in the direction parallel tothe length.
 13. A device as in claim 1 or 3 wherein the drawn substratefurther comprises at least one optical isolator extending in thedirection parallel to the length.
 14. A device as in claim 1, wherein afirst one of the at least two drawn channels has a cross-sectionalgeometry different from a cross-sectional geometry of a second one ofthe at least two drawn channels.
 15. A device as in claim 1 wherein thedrawn substrate comprises a material selected from the group comprising:glass, ceramic, and thermoplastic polymers.
 16. A device as in claim 1wherein the drawn substrate comprises a material selected from the groupcomprising: fused silica, fused quartz, and PMMA.
 17. A device as inclaim 1, further comprising an exterior coating on the drawn substratecomprising a material selected from the group comprising: polyimide,acrylate, fluorinated acrylate, silicone, metal, optical cladding.
 18. Adevice as in claim 1, further comprising an exterior coating on thedrawn substrate comprising a material selected from the group which is:magnetic, radio opaque, optically filtering, conductive, dielectric. 19.A device as in claim 1, further comprising an interior coating on thedrawn channel comprising a material selected from the group comprising:hydrophobic bonded phases, hydrophyllic bonded phases, polyacrlyamides,silver, silver halide, gold, and polytetrafluoroethylene.
 20. A deviceas in claim 1, wherein at least a selected one of the at least two drawnchannels has at least of a portion of a wall comprising a lens.
 21. Adevice as in claim 1, wherein at least a selected one of the at leasttwo drawn channels has at least a portion of a wall comprising areflector.
 22. A device as in claim 1, wherein the drawn substrate hasat least one alignment groove on its exterior surface, down its length.23. A device as in claim 1, further comprising an optical fiberinterfaced into one of the drawn channels.
 24. A device as in claim 23,further comprising a structure for redirecting light in the drawnchannel interfaced with the optical fiber.
 25. A device as in claim 24,wherein the structure for redirecting light comprises a reflectingsurface located on the end of the optical fiber interfaced into thedrawn channel.
 26. A device as in claim 20, wherein the at least twodrawn channels have a substantially constant spacing therebetween, asubstantially constant relative rotational alignment and a substantiallyconstant relative angular alignment along the length of the substrate.27. A device as in claim 26, wherein two of the drawn channels have aportion of a wall comprising a lens and the two lenses have asubstantially constant spacing therebetween, a substantially constantrelative rotational alignment and a substantially constant relativeangular alignment along the length of the substrate.
 28. A device as inclaim 3, wherein the endcap substrate is a drawn substrate and theendcap channels are drawn endcap channels.
 29. A device as in claim 28,wherein the drawn endcap channels are formed using a drawing process inwhich one or more of draw rate, draw tension, draw temperature and drawpressure are varied such that a cross sectional area of each channelvaries along a length thereof.
 30. A device as in claim 3, wherein theendcap substrate further comprises an endcap channel having across-sectional geometry different from a cross-sectional geometry ofthe at least one endcap channel.
 31. A device as in claim 3, wherein theendcap substrate comprises a material selected from the groupcomprising: glass, ceramic, and thermoplastic polymers.
 32. A device asin claim 3, wherein the endcap substrate comprises a material selectedfrom the group comprising: fused silica, fused quartz, and PMMA.
 33. Adevice as in claim 3, wherein the at least one endcap channel has atleast a portion of a wall comprising a lens.
 34. A device as in claim 3,wherein the at least one endcap channel has at least a portion of a wallcomprising a reflector.
 35. A device as in claim 3, wherein the drawnendcap has at least one alignment groove on its exterior surface.
 36. Adevice as in claim 3, wherein another endcap channel and at least onesaid endcap channel have a substantially constant spacing therebetween,a substantially constant relative rotational alignment and asubstantially constant relative angular alignment along the length ofthe substrate.
 37. A drawn substrate manufactured by a processcomprising: providing a preform body having at least one channel and atleast one optical waveguide preform therein and extending along a lengthof the preform body; drawing the preform body to extend the lengththereof such that a length of the at least one channel is extended whilesubstantially maintaining a cross sectional geometry of the at least onechannel and such that a length of the at least one optical waveguidepreform is extended while substantially maintaining a cross sectionalgeometry of the at least one optical waveguide preform; and cutting thedrawn preform body to a desired length.